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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida women’s soccer is set for the 2024 season, as head coach Eric Faulconer and staff announce the 20-match slate for the 29th season in program history.
The Ospreys will play nine matches on the road and 11 at Hodges Stadium, opening the season with two ACC matchups at Miami on Thursday, Aug. 15, and at Florida State on Sunday, Aug. 18. UNF will host Florida for its home opener on Thursday, Aug. 22, welcoming the Gators to Hodges Stadium for just the second time in program history.
Early Season Tests
The Ospreys kick off the 2024 campaign in Coral Gables, facing Miami for just the fifth time in program history on Aug. 15. The last matchup came early on in the 2022 season, where UNF fell 1-0 in a tightly contested game.
North Florida then heads to the state capitol to take on the 2023 National Champions Florida State on Aug. 18. The Ospreys hosted FSU for the first time in Jacksonville since 1996 last season.
UNF hosts Florida on Aug. 22 to open up a home heavy schedule, welcoming the Gators for the second time in program history. This will be the third matchup all-time between UNF and Florida, with both contests taking place back in 2021.
Non-Conference at Hodges
North Florida will host a season-high five non-conference matches at Hodges Stadium during the 2024 campaign. Following its contest with the Gators, the Ospreys welcome Alabama A&M in the lone 11:00 a.m., matchup of the season on Sunday, Aug. 25. This will be just the second matchup between the two teams in program history.
The Ospreys then host former ASUN Conference member Kennesaw State on Thursday, Aug. 29, it will be the 25th matchup all-time between the two sides. UNF opens September against a familiar foe in Mercer on the first of the month, making it the fourth-straight year the two teams have faced off. The contest last season resulted in a 1-1 draw.
Before hitting the road to conclude non-conference play, UNF hosts Georgia Southern on Thursday, Sept. 5, it will be the eighth contest between the two sides in program history. North Florida wraps up non-conference play with a pair of road games at Alcorn State on Sunday, Sept. 8, and at Davidson on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Atlantic Sun Play
The Ospreys open its 11-game conference schedule on the road, taking on reigning ASUN champions, FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 19. UNF returns home to face Stetson on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Hodges Stadium.
North Florida heads back on the road to face ASUN newcomer West Georgia for the first time in program history on Thursday, Sept. 26. Before returning to Hodges, UNF heads to North Carolina to face Queens (N.C.) just three days later on Sunday, Sept. 29.
UNF hosts Austin Peay on Thursday, Oct. 3, and faces Lipscomb on Sunday, Oct. 6, before hitting the road for one last time. In its final road trip of the season, the Ospreys go to Central Arkansas on Thursday, Oct. 10, and face North Alabama in the last away contest on Sunday, Oct. 13.
The remainder of the regular season will be played in Jacksonville as UNF hosts Bellarmine on Thursday, Oct. 17, and EKU on Sunday, Oct. 20. The River City Rumble is set for the final day of the regular season at Hodges Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Notes
9 road games and 11 home games.
The Ospreys take on the 2023 National Champions Florida State for the second consecutive season.
UNF will face ASUN newcomer West Georgia for the first time.
North Florida hosts an SEC team for the first time since 2021.
The Ospreys host a season-high five consecutive games at Hodges Stadium.
UNF takes on Alcorn State for the first time in program history.
Coach Faulconer on 2024
“I know our team is looking forward to the upcoming 2024 season. We definitely have a bitter taste in our mouths after last year. Eight of our conference games were decided by a goal either way or ended in a draw. Ultimately, it was not good enough and we have been working hard to flip that margin in our favor. The start of the season is definitely challenging. Miami, defending national champions Florida State and a home opener against Florida will be a difficult opening run of games, but also provides us with an opportunity to be stretched and grow as a team. Overall, we feel the schedule will prepare us well for ASUN play. This is a league that has proven over the past few years that every game is difficult. We return nine of our top 10 starters from last fall and have a group of new players coming in that we feel will definitely challenge for significant playing time. We also will get back several key players that missed all or almost all of the 2023 season due to injury. Add that all together and we are confident that we will find that margin of difference in the end. We are looking forward to our student-athletes reporting in late July and can’t wait to get started. SWOOP!”
